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To follow up Hungarian gastrointestinal cancer patients who were treated at St. Laszlo Hospital (Budapest) between the years of 2001-2006. We focused on the impact of the illness, quality of life, emotional health, and factors contributing to meaning in life.Out of the 240 questionnaires that were sent out in 2010, altogether 64 were returned (refusal rate: 72.3%) of which 40 filled-in questionnaires were interpretable. Mean age of the respondents (33% males) was 66.9+/-8.3 years. The following measure instruments were used: 1.) Ad hoc questions referring to the illness experience; 2.) Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (during the illness in a retrospective way and at present); 3.) WHO Well-being Index (WBI-5); 4.) general evaluation of quality of life on a 7-point Likert-scale (during the illness in a retrospective way and at present); 5.) Personal Meaning Profile (PMP).Our respondents reported significantly better quality of life at present when compared to the time of illness (p0.001). Level of depression and anxiety were also significantly lower at the time of participation (p0.001 and p=0.009, respectively). Self-acceptance, good interpersonal relationships, and sense of achievement proved to be the most important factors contributing to a sense of meaning in life. As a result of their illness, our respondents considered themselves as more patient, opener persons with elevated health consciousness.Quality of life of the respondents 4-9 years after treatment seemed to be adequate as perceived by the participants who showed low level of depression and anxiety. The illness itself has brought positive changes for the participants in their attitudes towards life and their surroundings. In spite of this fact, the perceived threat of the recurrence of cancer remains constant in their everyday life. |
